Career Highlights

  • Successfully represented plaintiff in first parental status employment discrimination trial in Illinois which resulted in a first of a kind judgment in favor of a parent for parental status discrimination and an award of approximately $350,000 (including $100,000 in punitive damages and attorney's fees).
  • Successfully served as lead counsel representing class of 900 satellite technicians in a federal overtime lawsuit which settled for seven figures in 2008.
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of former President of computer consulting firm in federal lawsuit enforcing employment agreement.
  • Won arbitration hearing on behalf of owner of FedEx delivery routes in breach of contract action.
  • Defeated motion seeking temporary restraining order filed in Illinois state court against financial advisor to prevent him from soliciting clients based on restrictive covenant.
  • Defeated motion seeking injunction in Florida state court against legal recruiter to prevent him from soliciting clients based on restrictive covenant.
  • Successfully represented Director of large financial services firm in gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed in federal court.
  • Successfully served as lead counsel representing an employee/shareholder neurosurgeon in a minority shareholder oppression lawsuit filed in Illinois state court.
  • Successfully represented terminated salesman in a federal lawsuit alleging race discrimination.
  • Successfully represented neurosurgeon in negotiating release from non-compete agreement based on claims the employer breached the employment agreement.
  • Successfully represented terminated salesman in a federal lawsuit alleging age discrimination.
  • Successfully negotiated employment agreement on behalf of Chief Financial Officer of Fortune 200 company.
  • Successfully negotiated employment agreement on behalf of a research analyst for a major financial brokerage firm.
  • Successfully represented pediatrician threatened with possible termination in a disability discrimination claim which resulted in client maintaining position with the employer hospital.
  • Successfully served as lead counsel representing employee/shareholder of a closely held family owned business in a minority shareholder oppression lawsuit filed in Illinois state court.
  • Negotiated favorable settlement on behalf of a salesperson in a failure to promote case based on age, gender and race discrimination.
  • Represented claimant in post-arbitration proceedings, including the successful opposition to respondents' motion to remand from federal to state court. The respondent sought to vacate a $4 million punitive damage award. After the motion to remand was denied in November 2003 the matter settled. First Union Securities, Inc. v. Raymond James & Associates, et al. (NYSE arbitration).
  • Represented respondent investment firm in an arbitration seeking $5 million in deferred compensation under an ERISA "top hat" plan.
  • Defended health maintenance organization in a class action based on allegations of breach of contract. Fischer v. Neighborhood Health Partnership, Inc. (Cir. Ct. Miami-Dade County, FL).
  • Represented defendants in a state court shareholder dispute relating to the termination of a minority shareholder's employment. Obtained dismissal of complaint based on the plaintiff's failure to allege facts which constitute shareholder oppression under Illinois law. The matter subsequently settled. Crane v. Granitewerks, Inc., 2003 CH 1346 (Cir. Ct. Cook Cty.).
  • Represented defendant Illinois Education Association in a legal malpractice claim relating to an underlying claim for wrongful termination. IEA's motion for summary judgment was granted on statute of limitations grounds. Tesar v. Illinois Education Association et al., 1999 L 7481 (Cir. Ct. Cook Cty.).
  • Represented plaintiff regional sales manager in a pregnancy discrimination and deferred compensation arbitration claim against former employer which settled for seven figures.
  • Obtained a favorable settlement in a race discrimination case brought against the Illinois Education Association after filing a motion to dismiss for want of prosecution. Davenport v. Illinois Education Association, 01 C 7187 (N.D. Ill.).
  • Defended the Chicago Transit Authority in an action arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act, including a claim for benefits and a retaliation claim. Obtained summary judgment as to all claims (2001 WL 40802). The decision is recognized in legal treatises and articles as a seminal decision establishing that employees cannot become eligible for FMLA leave while on a leave of absence and cannot bring retaliation claims under the FMLA if they are not eligible for FMLA leave. Sewall v. Chicago Transit Authority, 99 C 8372 (N.D.Ill.).
  • In an action under the Americans with Disabilities Act, obtained summary judgment in favor of the defendant on the basis that the plaintiff could not establish she was "qualified individual" under the Act in light of her positive drug tests and her obligations under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations (2000 WL 1468322). Redding v. Chicago Transit Authority, 99 C 1082 (N.D. Ill.).
  • Represented defendant in a sex discrimination claim. After obtaining favorable settlement on behalf of the client, the plaintiff refused to execute the written settlement agreement. Plaintiff agreed to dismissal after a motion to enforce the settlement agreement was filed. Haywood v. Chicago Transit Authority, 99 C 7844 (N.D. Ill.).
  • In a race discrimination and civil rights case concerning failure to promote, obtained dismissal of the claims relating to the individual defendants and subsequently obtained summary judgment on all federal claims brought against the Chicago Transit Authority. Summary judgment was affirmed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (375 F.3d 552). Hudson v. Chicago Transit Authority, 98 C 4124 (N.D. Ill.).
  • Represented plaintiffs in a civil rights action seeking equitable and monetary relief against defendant neighbors for ethnic discrimination and discriminatory interference with plaintiffs' property rights. Defeated defendants' motion for summary judgment on all claims. Tizes v. Curcio, 1995 WL 476675 (N.D. Ill.).